Dental articulator



March 8, 1932. R Q p s, 5 1,848,267

DENTAL ART ICULATOR Filed July 8, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l March 8, 1932. R. o. PERKINS, SR 1,848,267

DENTAL ARTICULATOR March 8, 1932. R. o. PERKINS. SR 1,843,267

DENTAL ART I CULATOR Filed July 8, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 a .1 i5 (5% wr y 1 426 52 55 R. Olav/$25,61 3

Patented Mar. 8, 1932 UNITED STATES ROYO. rim-Kins, $3,501 sairnnrromo, TEXAS PATENT 4 OFFE DENrAn ARTICULATOR Application filed July 8,

This invention aims to provide novel means for settlng up an upper denture and a lower denture in the position with respect to each other which they will assumeiinthe mouth of the patient," novel means beingiprovided for mounting the lower denture carrier for movement as the mandible'ofthe patient moves, it being possible to grind down the teeth of the dentures to a proper bearing surface.

It is within the province of thedis'closure to'improve generally and to .enhancethe utility of devices of that sort to which the present invention appertains. p U With the above andother. objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the Combination and arrangement of parts and in the detailsofeon ,Fi u .2 i Y le t' tithe tr ture g re lsalreare' Va Ion S ,uc the drawings 15 noted.

shown in Figure 1';

Figure 3 isa top plan;

Figure4 is a section on the line 4-401? Figurel;

Figure 5 is a sectionon the line 5-5 of Figure 3; v I v Figure 6 is an elevation showing the mechanism whereby the bite plate is held in the mouth'of the patient; V a -Figure 7 is a view similar; to Figure 5, but showing sundry parts added tothe structure, so that the member which represents the mandible may be power-driveng V I Figure 8 is a sectional view illustrating a portion of the driving mechanism;

Figure 9 is a bottom-plan showing a portion of the housing of Figure 8;

Figure'lO is a section on the line 10 10 of Figure8; h V

Figure 11 is an elevation showing the adjustingscrew and attendant parts;

Figure12 is a view wherein the structure 1929. Serial No. 376,591. f

of Figure 11 is seen at right angles to the showing of that figure;

13- 13 of Figure 12; g v F igure'14 is a section on the line 14'14 of Figure 11; p i

Figure 13 is a cross section on the line In carrying out the'invention, there is pro- 7 vlded a base 2 carrying a clamp 3; A-verti'c'al standard 4 is secured to'one end of the base 2 and is provided at its upper end with an arm 40 located approximately parallel to the base 2, the arm having a depending lug 10. A cap piece5 isthinged at '6 (Figure 2) to the upper v end of the standard 4. A screw 7 is'threaded into the intermediate portion of the cap piece 5 and into the arm 40, so that, if desired,the

cap piece'may be held against turning on the hinges 6 from the horizontal solid line position of Figure 5 to the vertical dotted line position of that figure. 7

a An upper denture carrier 8 rests on' the arm 40, and the forward end portions of i the denture carrier are-held detachably but securely in the cap piece 5 by means ofscrews Q threaded into the cap piece and engaging the upper denture carrier 8, in a way which will be readily understood WhenFigure'Q of As shown in Figure 7, there is a seat in the lower surface ofthe upper denture carrier 8, the seat being adapted to receive the upper end of a support'26, in the form of a rod,

threaded'at 27,for adjustment, into the base 2,'the' support being held in place by a lock I nut 28 threaded on thesupport and engaging 5 the base 2. -The numeral 81' marks a frame I which carries the model, the frame being held detachably in the upper carrier 8 by means of a cross pin 82, or by any other suitable means. Q

A lower denture carrier-11 is located below the upperdenture carrier 8 and has arms 12 thatextend horizontally, and upwardly,,the

by an inverted V-shaped bracket 16, the outw line of which is shown in Figure 2.- One end of a hook bolt 17 is, connected pivotally with r the apex of the bracket 16, as shownin Figure 5. The hook bolt 17 is mounted intermediate its ends to swing in the standard 4. A nut 18 is threaded on the outer end of the hook bolt 17, and a compression spring 19 is mounted on the bolt. One end of the compression spring 19 abuts against the nut 18, and the other end of the spring abuts against the standard 4. Compression springs 20 engage the balls 14, as shown in Figure 4, the compression springs being located in threaded bores formed in the sockets 15. threaded into the bores, the screws having re duced ends about which the springs are located. The screws 21 are employed to ad- 'ust the springs 20, and the screws touch the alls 14, thereby to form an adjustable stop for the balls, it being noted at this point that the balls represent the condyles'of the lower aw. 1 .At the upper end of the bracket 16 there is a table 22 into which a screw 23 is threaded.

. The screw 23 is adapted to cooperate wtih the lug 10 on the arm 40 of the standard 4.

The lower denture carrier 11 includes a detachable part 24 held in place by a set screw 25 threaded into the member 11 and engagifi the part 24, ina way which will be understoo clearly when Figures 1 and 5 are compared.

In'the detachable part 24 of the lower denture carrier is mounted a frame 83 on which the model is mounted. The frame 83 may be held in place on the part 24, detachably, by means of a pin 84, or in any other suitable 0n the inner endof the detachable part 24' of the lower denture carrier, there is a de ending stud 85 carrying a ball 86.

The numeral 87 marks a bracket heldon the support 26, for vertical adjustment, by means of a set screw 88 threaded into the bracket 87, and engaged in a longitudinal seat 89 in the support 26. The bracket 87 is provided with a longitudinal slot 90, the lower part of which is wider than the upper part. The stud 85 on the member 24 of the lower denture carrier 11 extends down throughthe upper part of the slot 90, and the ball 86 can slide'and rock in the lowerpart of the slot '90.

' A transverse arm 29 is mounted on the sup-.

port 26 for adjustment vertically of the support, and is retained by a set screw 31. A setup plate 32 is held at 91, securely, butfor rocking adjustment, on the arm 29. A bite plate 36 is held by a set screw 33 for adjust.- ment vertically on the arm 26.

Gauge plates 34 are held by clamp screws 35 on the sockets 15. The gauge plates 34 have slots 36for the reception of the clamp screws 35. the slots 36 permitting an adjust ment of the gauge plates 34, when the screws 35' are-loosened. The balls 14 of the member 11 are providedwith lateral projections 37 which move in elongated slots 39 in the gauge plates 34. Scales 38 are inscribed on the garage plates 34 and extend parallel to the slots 39. The gauge plates 34 have projec- Screws 21pare I tions 92 into which are threaded screws 93, the screws 93 abutting against the heads of the screws 35. The screws 93 can be shifted in or out to regulate the amount that the gauge plates 34 are adjusted toward the left in igure 1. Retractile springs 94 are connected to the lower outer corners of the gauge plates 34, and are connected to adjusting devices 95, such as small bolts which are movable lengthwise in ears 96 on the standard 4. Bythreading the nuts along the bolts 95, some tension may be put into the springs 94, and if the elamp'sorews 35 are loosened, the lower denture carrier 11 will be yieldably mounted and can swing as does the human mandible.

In the structure hereinbefore described, it has been presupposed that the lower denture carrier 11 is to be moved by hand, but this is not'necessary, and when the lower denture carrier i's'to be power-driven, recourseis had to the rearrangement of parts shown in Figure 7 The screw .23 is shifted and is moved down in the table 22, clear of the lug 10 on the arm 40, and a gear housing 46 is mounted on the inner end of the table 22. The table 22 and the gear housing 46 are recessed, as shown at 48 in Figure 8, to receive a worm wheel 49 and a worm 50'which meshes with the worm wheel 49. The worm 50 is carriedxby'a shaft 51 which is journaled in the gear housing 46 and in the table 22. The shaft 51 maybe connected to a flexible shaft 53 which is driven in any suitable way. The worm 'wheel'49 is attached to a shaft 54 journaled'in the housing 46 and in the table 22 and held therein, for rotation, by means ofa nut 55, or any other equivalent means.

The shaft 54 includes an exposed eccentric portion 58 carrying an offset projection 59 which is received in an opening 60formed on the under side of an adjustable bearing or slide 61 havin'gat its inner end a transverse plate 62 provided with inwardly extended fingers 63 mounted to move'in guide grooves 64 that are formed inthe sides of the arm 40 on the standard 4. One end 65 of a screw 66 is held in the plate 62 of the slide or'bearing 61. The screw 66 slides freely in the lug 16 on the arm 40. A small wheel 97 "is mounted in atransverse slot in the lug 10 and. is threaded on the screw 66.

In Figure 6 of the drawings, there is shown a convenient means for taking the bite, the bite plate mount 30 beingsecured' adjustably to a small post 98 held by a'set screw 71, ad-- tudinal slots 77 formedin hangerplates 7 8 connected at their lower ends by a flexible neck strap 7 9. J owl straps 80 are connected atctheir rear ends to the lower ends of the hanger 78, the forward ends of the straps 80 having openings 81 adapted to receive studs 82 on the rear ends of the chin piece 68.

The position of the lower denturecarrier 1294 with respect to the upper denture carrier 8 maybe adjusted at any time by threading the screw 23 up and down, the

screw being threaded into the part 22 of the lower denture-carrier, and bearing against the lug 10 of the arm 40 of the standard 4. The screw 23 can be backed down, clear of the lug 10, and then the lower denture carrier 1224lcan be swung with respect to the upper denture carrier 8, .to grind the dentures with respect to each other. The balls 14 rock one at a time in the sockets 15,

and the lateral excursions of the mandible are simulated closely; The spring 19 and the hook belt 17 hold the lower denture carrier 11-24:. g The springs 20 of Figure 4 form yieldable abutments for the balls 14:, and the tion with the scales38 on the gauge plates 34. The slots 39 limit the swinging movement of the lower denture carrier 11-24:,

the plates 34 being adjustable to get the lateral bite. The screw 7 may be backed off, and then the cap 5, with the upper denture carrier 8, maybe turned up into the dotted line position of Figure 5, thereby afiording. I ample working space whilst the upper denture is being set up. n

It has been presupposed that the lower denture carrier was moved by hand, hereinbefore, but this is not necessary, and when the lower i denture carrier is to be powerdriven, then recourse is had to the rearrangement of parts indicated in Figure '7. p

The screw 23 is shifted, in Figure 7, from I the position which it occupies in Figure 5,

so that it is clear of the luglO, and by means of the wheel 97, and the screw 66, the slide 61 may be adjusted in and out, it being re-c called that the projections 59 of Figure 8 is received in the opening (Figure 12) of the slide 61. The shaft 53 rotates the shaft 51 and the worm 50, the worm turning the worm wheel 49 and the shaft 54, the eccentrically disposedprojection 59 turning in the opening 60 of the slide or bearing 61. It will be clear that when the shaft 5% is rotated, as aforesaid, swinging movement will be imparted to the lower denture carrier 11-24. The nature of the movement im-' the sockets and engaging the condyle members, and springs about the stopsand engaging the condyle members.

parted to the lower denture carrier 1124 maygberegulated and changed-by sliding the bearing 1161 inand out on, the arm 40, through the instrumentality of the screw.66.; The bracket 87 cooperates with the bat-11 86 andvthe stud '85 on the part 2% of the lower denture carrier 11 to support the end of the carrier 11 that is remote fromthe standard 4.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described, a framehaving sockets, an upper denture carrier mounted on the frame, a lower denture carrier-cooperating with the upper denture carrier and comprising condyle members mounted to rockin the sockets, and adjust; able stops mounted in the sockets and engag-; ing, the condyle members. 1

2. In a device of the class'described, :a

'frame'having sockets, an upper denture carrier mounted on the frame, a lower denture carrier cooperating with the upper denture carrier, and comprising condyle, members mounted to ro'ck in. the sockets, adjustable stopsmova'blejat the '1 will of an operator in 3. In a device ofthe class described, a frame having sockets, an upper denture carrier mounted on the frame, a lower denture carrier cooperating with the upper denture carrier and comprising condyle members mounted to rock in the sockets, the condyle members having lateral projections, gauge plates having openings in which the projections move, combined clamping and pivot elements carried by the frame, the gauge plates being slotted to receive the clamping and pivot elements, and adjustable means under the control of an operator and cooperating with thegauge plates and with parts of the condyle members for producing relative adjustment between the condyle members and the gauge plates, when the combined clamping and pivot elements are loosened.

4. In a device of the class described, a

frame, an upper denture carrier mounted on the frame, a lower denture carrier including condyle members mounted to rock on the frame, a bracket, means for'mounting the lower denture carrier to slide and to rock' upon the bracket, means for mounting the bracket for adjustment toward and away from the upper denture carrier.

5. In a device of the class described, a

frame, an upper denture carried on the frame,

alower denture carrier mounted to rock on the frame, a driven shaft journaled onthe lower denture-carrier and including an cecentric, and a bearing on the frame, the eccentric engaging the bearing to impart swinging movement to the lower denture carrier when the shaft is rotated. r 6. In a device of the class described, a' frame, abearing mounted to slidecon the l uau means undef the control of an 09 NM fw'sl iding the bearing '11 the frames; an upper denture" carrier on the frame, a

lower dafixire carrier mounted to rack on the frame, a shaft joumled' on he lower dnmre carrier, means for driving the shaft, and in Gc'bentfic on the'sh'aft and coo eratin with the bearing to impart swinging move ment to the lower denture carrier.

13 7. in a device of th' class described,- a fumqa beating adjustable on th frame, means under the control: of an opefatot for slimming the bearing on the tram, an up er 7 demure cmier mounted on the frame, a

dnture carrier coopefating with denmre caning and mtifin'bedto on the frame, shaft-s jmantaiedthe lower dentufi carrier-1,: worm and pinion connectiun between the Shafts; meiiias for dvivin;

1;? one ghaft; and an ewentric on the other sha t and cooperating wibh-the bearind.

la-wsbirmny that I claim the fore oing as my I have here'bo aflixed my si nature. r77 ROY 0. PERKIN sh.- 

